Tuesday, May 06, 2008

No Playoff Appearances For Their Club

If you take a look at each of the MLS clubs, which player has made the most appearances for each team without taking the field in a playoff match? Obviously, RSL and Toronto can't take part in this post as they have yet to make the playoffs. I've also only included total appearances through 2007, because many of this year's players will in fact end up in a playoff match. What I mean is, putting in the appearances during the middle of the season doesn't seem right, since we know that in completed seasons, the player had a chance to play in a playoff game but didn't. Also, it's less work.

Most Games Played Without Appearing In A Playoff Game For That Team

CHI

Henry Ring

39

CHV

Orlando Perez

67

CLB

Eddie Gaven

60

COL

Scott Garlick

56

DAL

Brad Davis

59

DC

Brian Kamler

91

HOU

Chris Wondolowski

31

KC

Shavar Thomas

80

LA

Gavin Glinton

61

MIA

Roy Lassiter

30

NE

Darren Sawatzky

55

NY

Kerry Zavagnin

40

RSL

xxx

xxx

SJ

Braeden Cloutier

58

TB

Jan Eriksson

37

TOR

xxx

xxx

Ex-United player Kamler has the highest total for any team at 91 games, while Perez, Gaven, and Wondolowski are still with their clubs. Kamler was a bit player his first two years in DC (1996-97), starting only 5 times and coming on as a sub 20 times. Getting knocked out by Jake Dancy probably didn't help. Nevertheless, he came back from that mess and was a starter in 1998. However, he then hurt his foot down the stretch. He was traded halfway through 1999, and came back in another trade in 2001 but that team was horrible. So 5 seasons played with United, 91 appearances, but none in the playoffs for Brian Kamler. However, he wasn't shut out completely in his career, starting several playoff games for Miami and New England (including the 2002 MLS Cup).